Het Diner Page #4

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- I'm not angry.

We passed that station a while back.

Boyz in Black III?

What the f*** are you doing?

- Shut up!

- I'll shut up.

- I'm listening.

- Act normal for once.

You never do.

Act normal for once.

Act normal for once.

That phrase paralyzed me.

I've never acted normal, of course.

Why didn't I do anything?

Why didn't I hit him?

Why didn't I drag him to the police?

It's all my fault.

It's not your fault.

The psychologist at the school

where I taught...

had advised me to wear sunglasses.

He said I was overly sensitive to stimuli.

This way I was able to filter those out.

So this is what you broke?

Good afternoon.

This is the perpetrator.

He wants to offer his apologies.

It was bound to happen.

They play football day in day out

in front of my door.

They kick the ball "accidentally"

against the window.

I want to pay for the damage.

Sooner or later, the ball has to

go through. It's just a matter of time.

It's exactly what that scum wants.

My son isn't scum.

He's eight years old.

- You know what the English say?

- No. What?

You're judged

by the company you keep.

Shut up, man.

- Pardon?

- You heard me, prick.

I come here with my son

to offer to pay for that f***ing window.

It's just a ball through a window,

a**hole.

That doesn't give you the right

to call my son scum.

- I won't be insulted by you.

- Yes you will.

Is that right?

Stay where you are.

Right now it it's just a window.

Just settle down now.

- How much is that window?

- 100. 150 euro.

Plus labor.

That's what I came here for

and not to listen to your sick sh*t.

Don't be sad.

That guy's just a jerk

and that's what I told him.

You didn't do anything wrong. It was

an accident. These things happen, right?

That's why he can't call you scum.

Get it?

Hey, want to go to mom?

OK? Shall we go to mom

and tell her everything?

OK? Come on.

- Dad?

- Yes?

- Were you going to hit that gentleman?

- He's no gentleman.

He's a piece of trash

and trash needs to be taken out.

Let's not tell mom about the pump.

Let's keep it a secret?

Bump?

Later that afternoon

he went clothes-shopping with Claire.

I have to admit that my own house,

my living room and especially...

my presence in that house

and living room...

started to frighten me.

- Why did you put that footage online?

- We don't do that.

Boyz in Black III.

What the hell are you doing?

And what is the unmasking?

Are there clips I haven't seen yet?

If you're not putting it online, who is?

- Rick?

- No.

- So who?

- Faso.

Faso?

Yeah.

What about the last clip? Lady Bum.

Is Faso putting that online?

Is that the unmasking?

Yes.

- How did he...

- Just...

What just?

- I e-mailed it to Rick.

- You e-mailed it? Are you crazy?

Faso saw it.

He downloaded it off Rick's computer

and now he's threatening to put it online.

- He's blackmailing you?

- Yeah.

He wants a Vespa.

So it's all about a Vespa?

- How much is a Vespa?

- 3000 euros.

If we gave him 3000 euros

will this stop?

And Uncle Serge?

You leave Uncle Serge to me.

I'll give you the money tomorrow.

OK.

This is my son.

So beautiful.

Wow, he looks like Claire.

- What are you doing here, sweetie?

- I took his phone by accident.

After all?

Time to go, Michel. OK?

See you.

Babette told me about Rick's confession.

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I wanted to spare you.

We'll talk about it later.

We have to go in.

They are wondering where you went.

Don't tell Babette and Serge

that Michel was here.

- Why not?

- None of their business.

- How are things inside?

- Fragile.

Fortunately, lobster doesn't go cold.

Aren't you hungry, Paul?

You haven't eaten anything yet.

You don't see Lobster Thermidor

that often these days.

- But with a new kind of sauce. It's good.

- I don't know.

I'm not crazy about lobster.

What's the point of their existence?

Blind bottom feeders.

I find them both sinister and pathetic.

A bit like Stevie Wonder

with hedge trimmers.

They have fabulous desserts here.

Blackberries from our own garden.

Homemade-chocolate parfait.

These are almond slivers.

- I don't want it.

- Pardon?

- Not for me.

- Mmm, good.

- Take it away.

- But you ordered it.

I know what I ordered.

These blackberries

are from our own garden.

- I'll have them.

- Stay out of it.

Take it. Should we get Tonio,

if it's that hard to take back a dessert?

That won't be necessary.

I'll discuss it with Tonio.

- We will offer you an alternative...

- I don't need "an alternative".

What the hell are you laughing at?

- Jesus, what a prick.

- Babette, please.

- What?

- You can't do this.

You're afraid we won't

get a table next time.

- That's not the point.

- So what is?

It's not fair.

Waiters can't do anything back.

They can spit on your fries.

It happens.

It's got nothing to do with that.

It's about you being a coward.

You're such a limp dick!

You're afraid of what Tonio might think.

Tonio! He's real name's Tony or Anthony.

He thought that was too common.

I don't want to eat here ever again.

I'm going home.

- I am done...

- Serge! Sit down.

Paul, we have a problem.

With your brother.

I hear you're disappointed

with the blackberries.

No problem. We can...

Tonio... Ton.

Not now.

Ah well, he'll vote Liberal anyway.

OK.

By now, we all know

what has happened.

We're all familiar with the facts.

- Paul?

- What?

I assume you're aware of the facts.

- Who wants a beer?

- Me.

Go to the ATM.

- Who wants a beer?

- Pay for it yourself.

I paid yesterday, man.

- Well, what is a fact?

- Oh, come on!

How do we deal with this?

- How do we go public?

- Public?

Let me have my say

and then it's your turn.

Take that hand away. Now!

I know what you're thinking.

It's your turn soon.

Sh*t! Somebody's in there

stinking up the place.

- There's an ATM over there too.

- That's so weak.

We're not going to another ATM.

Come on, man.

Babette and I spoke to Rick

this afternoon.

We get the impression

that he feels terrible.

He finds it horrific, what they did.

Get up!

- Wake up!

- Get out of that sleeping bag.

No, man. I'm leaving.

- No, you're staying here, man.

- Faso!

It literally keeps him awake at night.

He looks terrible.

His grades are suffering.

- Bro, wait.

- See you at home.

Hold on.

Come back.

Crap.

This is quite aside from

any political goals I might have.

Please don't make me laugh.

I'm concerned about Rick's future,

first and foremost.

Look, it's quite possible that this case

might never be solved.

But can you live with that?

Can Rick live with that?

And can we live with that?

Right? Can we...

If you say 'can we live with that' again,

I'll lose my mind.

- But that's the question, dear boy.

- I'm not a dear boy.

I can just see myself as Prime Minister

and a reporter says: 'Mr Lohman...'

'Are you involved in the murder

of a homeless person?'

It's about:
Can you live with it?

I think 'murder' is a step too far.

Ten steps too far.

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